Watchcase



Nov.. 28, 1933'.

A. WUISCHPARD WATCHCASE Filed Jan. 28, 1950 Patented Nov. 28, 1933UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATCHCASE Application January 28, 1930.Serial No. 424,042

1 Claim.

Wrist watches as universally made are, and have been, of the open faceconstruction, that is to say, without any cover to protect the crystal,the dial and hands from damaging knocks or 5 blows. And yet carried asthey are upon the wrist, they are especially exposed to injury or damageas to the parts mentioned. Facility of inspection or examination of thewatch to ascertain the time is of special importance and that l0 is aconsideration which must be taken into account in the design andconstruction of wrist watches. The object of my invention is to providea case construction which will supply the obvious need of protectionfrom damage or injury ,to the crystal, hands and dial, and yet whichwill be without any objection or draw-back when facility of inspectionor examining the watch to ascertain the time is concerned. By myinvention, I achieve this object. While especially produced for wristwatches for the reasons just stated, it is to be understood that as faras the broad scope of my invention is concerned, I include therein otherthan wrist watches.

My invention consists in whatever is described by or is included withinthe terms or scope of the appended claim. In the drawing:- Fig. 1 is atop plan view of a wrist watch having a case embodying my invention;

' 30 Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The wrist watch shown in the drawing, as one embodiment of my invention,comprises a case 10, of a conventional oblong form having at oppositeends and .at opposite sides projections 11, for connection with thecustomary strap. And it includes a cover 12, for the crystal, dial andhands, which at one end is hinged to the 4.0 case, so that the cover maybe swung between a closed to an open position to expose the dial or facefor reading the time and covering the face.

'The hinge shown is formed by alining eyes 13,

formed on cover edge and case respectively and a pintle or case pin 14,extending through them. The hinge is preferably arranged with its axistransverse of the case so thatv it extends crosswise of the wrist ofvthe wearer and for the sake of symmetry of design the case and cover,at the end opposite the hinge, may be formed in simulation of the hingejoints.

The cover is normallyspring-held in closed position in that respectbeing the opposite of the ordinary hunting-case watch and to open thecover one does so against the spring pressure, as

by pressing upon a slide, so that when finger pressure is taken from theslide, the cover will automatically close without any thought on thepart of the wearer and thus the danger of neglecting to close the coverwill not exist. An open 60 cover on a wrist watch would be especiallyexposed to damage or injury. p

A simple, readily accessible cover-opening device as shown in thedrawing. It comprises a bar 15, slidably fitted in a guide-way 16,formed 55 in one of the case lugs 11, with one end projectingsuiiciently to be readily engaged by the thumb or finger to push the barinward. The end of the bar 15, within the guide-way 16, is engaged byone end of an expansible coil spring 1'7, whose 70 other end bearsagainst the vend of a hole provided in the case to accommodate it. Thespring thus normally tends to push the slide bar 15, outward. The sideof the slide bar within the guide 16, and adjacent the cover hinge hasseveral rack teeth 18, which mesh with the teeth of a rack segment 19,on the cover 12, so that sliding movement of the bar 15, against thespring pressure will throw the cover open and sliding movement of thebar 15, under spring pressure will swing the cover to a closed positionwhere it will be securely held from unintentional opening by the springpressure.

Preferably as a matter of desirable construction, the spring is securedto or attached to the slide or push bar as by swaging or otherwise.

The gear teeth may be made of steel and brazed to the parts on whichthey are provided which will usually be of gold or they may be made ofgold or other non-rusting material.

While the construction shown and described in its details is a verydesirable one, it is to be understood that variations may be madetherefrom which will be within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:-

A wrist watch having a case with a cover for the face of the watch,means normally tending to close the cover and hold it closed, said casehaving at opposite sides means for connection therewith of a wristencircling strap, said means including a side lug and a finger movedelement mounted for movement in said lug and means to connect saidelement with the cover to open it against the action of the meansnormally tending to close the cover.

ALPHONSE WUISCHPARD.

